Fire safety device for dwellings and factories



A. MERCER FIRE SAFETY DEVICE FOR DWELllJIIIG-S AND FACTORIES Filed May 19, 1927l Y July 24, 1928.

Figf". l

I'WENTOR liatented duly 2.4, 1928.

e ai" STA 'rss teresa@ Eran sArnfrY DEVICE Fori 'DwnLLrNss AND rAcfronrns.

' Application filed May 19,

rlhis invention relates generally to safety devices, and has more particular reference to a lire safety device for dwellings and factories.

'.lhe invention has for an object the provision of a lire safety device for dwellings and factories, or the like, which is reliable, accurate and eilicient in action.

The invention has for a further object, the provision of a lire` safetyv devicefor dwellings and factories, which can be manufactured and installed at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the inven tion and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing and to the appended claimsin which the various no vel features of the invention'are more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a house having the invention applied thereto, for clearness in illustrating, certain wiring being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing only the wiring omitted in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. -1 is a horizontal sectionalview, taken on the line a-ll of Fig. 2. j

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 .is a fragmentary view of the house,

with a modilied form of the invention de# vice applied thereto, and certain schematic wiring. p Y

' Fig. 7 1s a vertical sectional View .of the cartridge holder, taken on the line 77 of Fig. fl, and schematic wiring of the device being applied to this view.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the adjustable cartridge holder shown in Figq.

flhe reference numeral 10 indicates a building, either residential or a factory, standing on the ground 11, having a water main 12 therebeneath. A connection'l from the main 12, leads through one of thewalls of house 10, and into the bottom of chamber 14 of a casing 15 having a projecting side wall 16. A plurality of small pipes 17 connect with the top of chamber 141 and lead separately to various portions of the house, being provided at intervals with sprinklers 18. The portions of the pipe 17 adjacent the top of the chamber 14;, are each provided 1927. serial No. 192,605.'

when a tire fuse wire 24; separately associated with the wires 23 is burnt bvlire. r1 he wires 24 lead separately to various portions of the house 10.

The cartridge holder 22 has an interior chamber 35 accessible, by a removable block i normally held in place by a' screw 37; Each cartridge 21 has a trigger 38 pivotallv supported tothe holder 22, and forciblvlnrged towards said cartridge by a springv39 also supported. to the holder rin arm Ll() pivotally securedito member 22, normallv engages one end: of thetrigger 38 and holdvs the trigger against engagement `with the cartridge 21. Asolenoid-l is attached to the member 22, and upon being energized is capable of moving the free end of the arm a() to free the trigger '38 and permit the spring 39 to thrust the trigger against the cartridge and explode the same. The wires 23 electrically connect solenoid 41 in series with a battery 42, and a switch 423. A spring 44: is connected to normallyclose switch A normally energized solenoid l5 is connected tothe Vswitch and holds the switch open. This solenoid 45 is in series with the fuse wire 24C and a source of power wires 4G. When the fuse wire 24 burns, the circuit of solenoidl 45 is brolreinand the spring 44 closes the switch 43. Solenoid Ll1 now being in a complete circuit is energized, and moves the arm 4() to free the trigger 38. The spring 39 then throws the trigger against the cartridge and explodes it.

When a cartridge 21 is discharged it makes suliicient noise to be heard quite some distance, calling attention to the tire in the house. The shot from the cartridge impinges against the end of the lever 19 which projects thereover, moving this end of the lever upwardly and moving the other end of the lever downwardly, thus moving stem 18, opening the valve, and water from the main 12 is permittedto flow to certain of the sprinklers 18 acting to extinguish the fire.

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An alarm 25 is attached to the house above the levers 19, and has a downwardly projecting arm 2G adapted to be pushed Vupwardly by any of the 'levers 19 to cause 'the alarm to start ringinguntil the arm is manually pulled downwardly again. The ringing alarm also gives notice ofthe fire.

In Fig. 6 a modification is disclosed showing the cartridge holder v 22 hingedly mounted to the house, as at 2S, andprovided with a projecting 'screw 29 engaging ina slot 8O of an arcuate arm 3l secured to thehouse, the center of curvature of the arcuate farm 31, coinciding with the hinge 28. The ylevers 19 are of sufficient length to extend into the path of cartridge discharge in any position of the cartridge holder. If it is Vunsafe for the cartridges to fire ,vertically upward, screw 29 may be vloosened and thecartridge body moved obliquely to a desirable position about the hinge 28, and thuslocked by retightening the screw 29. The alarm -25 may be connected by supporting wires32 tofa'n indicator box 33 located in afire apparatus station, so that as', the alarm'Q operates, lindication is given on the indicator boX 33, notifying the-fire department of the fire.

While I have described and illustrated the preferred form, construction, and arrangement of the several elements employed, it will be understood that the device is,neve'r theless, susceptible of considerablev modification therein, and I therefore reserve'the privilege of resortingto all such changes asmay be fairly embodied within the spirit `and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus Ydescribed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: Y

'1. A device of the class described,corn prising a water supply, a casing `with a chamber, Vthe water vsupplytbeing connected with the bottom of the casing, sprinkler connections to 4difiierentiparts' of a building, and connected `to the topof'thechamber, valves operated by Vstems inthese connections, vand adj acent the top of the chainber,`leverspiv oted :to the chamber and connected `to the cartridges, fuse wires* v`to^dii`ferent parts of the building, and means for exploding a Acartridge individually ascertain of the fuse wires burn, the shot from the cartridge moving the adjacent lever and causing certain sprinklers tok operate.

2.:A -device of thevclass described, coinprising a water supply, a casing with a chamber, the Water supply being connected with the bottom of the casing, ,sprinkler connectionsto different parts of a building, and connected 'to thetop of the chamber, valves operated by stems in these connections, and adjacent the top of the chamber, levers pivotedftorthechamber land connected to the stems, :a cartridge holder with ,cartridges adjiistablyr secured to the outside of the building, the free end of the leversprojecting `over the cartridges, fusewires to diiferentiparts ofthe -building and means for exploding, a cartridge individually certain of :the fuse Wiresburmthe shot from the cartridge moving the adjacent lever, and causing certain sprinklers to4 operate an alarm operated by said moving lever.

3. In/a device. Of the class' described, the combination with v`the exterior' wall of a building, a-sprinklersystemfor, said build- `ing and lev'ersproje'cting from the building for turning on certainof the sprinklers, of a cartridge 5 holder Vpositioned `beneath the `levers, and hingedly `connected to the exterior of the'wallof the buildingyan arm provided with an elongated arcuateap'erture,also connected to said Wall of thebuilding,gthe center of curvature of the arcuate raperature coinciding :with :the hinge connection, and a screw from the cartridge holder, 4engaging in the elongated faperture, Aand meansforffixing the positi'onof said screw with respect to sai-d fapertur'e.

lIn testimony whereof I have aflixedmy signature.

anEXANDEnli/rnncnn. 

